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2 May 2007 : Column 1744W—continued

Managed Service Companies

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses to the consultation tackling managed service companies of December 2006. [134711]

John Healey: The Government have received a Freedom of Information request for the same information from the hon. Member.

The Treasury is actively considering issues around the confidentiality of the information provided by the respondents to the consultation and will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Middle East

Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a Minister in his Department last visited (a) Bahrain, (b) Kuwait, (c) Oman, (d) Qatar, (e) Saudi Arabia, (f) the United Arab Emirates and (g) Yemen on official business. [131352]

John Healey: All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and “Travel
2 May 2007 : Column 1745W
by Ministers”. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. I can confirm that the Chancellor attended the International Monetary and Financial Committee meetings in Dubai in September 2003 and passed through Dubai in March 2007. The Chancellor visited Riyadh in November 2005 and passed through Abu Dhabi en route. The Chancellor also passed through Kuwait in November 2006. The Economic Secretary visited the United Arab Emirates in November 2006 and the Paymaster General visited the United Arab Emirates in January 2007.

Money Laundering

Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to establish a new unit within HM Revenue and Customs to deal with cases of money laundering. [135251]

John Healey: HMRC already has units responsible for dealing with money laundering. Action to combat money laundering is an integral part of HMRC’s operational efforts to counter fiscal fraud against the UK's tax and duty systems and to protect the integrity of the UK's frontier controls. In addition, a unit is being created to deal with HMRC’s specific regulatory responsibility relating to the licensing regime that becomes mandatory in December 2007 under the Third Money Laundering Directive.

Multiple Sclerosis

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from multiple sclerosis in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997. [135315]

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 2 May 2007:


2 May 2007 : Column 1746W
Number of deaths with multiple sclerosis as the underlying cause of death( 1) , Jarrow parliamentary constituency. South Tyneside local authority. North-east Government office region, England( 2) , 1997 to 2005( 3)
Deaths (persons)
Jarrow South Tyneside North East England

1997

1

3

30

661

1998

0

0

38

698

1999

0

1

39

723

2000

1

1

31

659

2001

1

1

44

849

2002

0

0

35

861

2003

1

2

61

935

2004

2

4

49

838

2005

1

3

50

900

(1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 340 for the years 1996 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code G35 for 2001 onwards. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from this cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years.
(2) Based on local authority boundaries as of 2007.
(3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

National Insurance Contributions

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 485W, on national insurance contributions, what steps he has taken to rectify letters relating to the non-payment of national insurance contributions in the 2004-05 tax year sent in error. [131409]

John Healey: During 2006-07, HM Revenue and Customs sent 4.7 million letters to customers advising them of a potential shortfall in their National insurance contributions for the 2004-05 tax year. The majority of these letters were correct but some contained incorrect information.

HMRC contacted many of the employers involved and also worked closely with representative bodies to inform their members. The vast majority of the 2004-05 end of year information has now been processed successfully. Where a letter had been sent in error, HMRC has either sent, or is in the process of sending, a follow-up letter explaining that sufficient NI contributions have been paid and that 2004-05 is now a qualifying year for benefit purposes.

Any employees who are still waiting for a follow-up letter, or are unsure of their NI position, can send a copy of their 2004-05 P60 to the address on the deficiency notice and HMRC will investigate their case.

Patients: Hemel Hempstead

Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions the Office for National Statistics has had with Dacorum Primary Care Trust on the number of patients registered in Hemel Hempstead constituency. [135326]

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 2 May 2007:


2 May 2007 : Column 1747W

Revenue and Customs: Great Yarmouth

Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff were employed in Great Yarmouth in each year since 1997. [134318]

John Healey: Before HM Revenue and Customs was created in April 2005, HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue both had offices at Great Yarmouth. The following table shows the total staff employed at Great Yarmouth for HM Revenue and Customs (and for the component Departments prior to 2005) as at 1 April each year from 2001. No records exist for previous years.

Staff numbers (headcount)

2001

210

2002

197

2003

193

2004

190

2005

186

2006

176

2007

153


Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the cost implications caused by rent charges of moving HM Revenue and Customs staff from Great Yarmouth to Norwich. [134320]

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is undertaking a review of all its accommodation to bring it into line with business requirements, and expects to make substantial savings on its accommodation running costs.

The review of the cluster of HMRC offices comprising Great Yarmouth, Norwich and East Dereham is planned to take place later this year. No such estimate has yet been made. No decisions on the future of any of these offices will be made until the review process is completed.

Revenue and Customs: Pay

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any HM Revenue and Customs inspectors receive incentive payments related to their collection of revenue. [135182]

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs inspectors do not receive payments related to the collection of revenue.

Robert Shrum

Mr. Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what work Robert Shrum has undertaken for HM Treasury since 1997. [134405]

John Healey: None. HM Treasury has not contracted Robert Shrum to do any work.


2 May 2007 : Column 1748W

Sequestration of Assets: Iran

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will sequester appropriate assets of the government of Iran as compensation for Ministry of Defence equipment seized and not returned in (a) 2004 and (b) 2007; and if he will make a statement. [133581]

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.

We will continue to press the Iranian authorities for the return of the boats and equipment seized by Iran in 2004 and 2007.

Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to foster the growth and development of small and medium sized enterprises. [134569]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 26 April 2007]: I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 26 October 2006, Official Report, column 95WS. As my statement indicated, a wide range of activity is in hand and if any particular area interests the hon. Member I will be happy to update him.

Taxation

Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department takes to inform people that they may be eligible to reclaim tax; and if he will make a statement. [134634]

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 April 2007, Official Report, columns 1370-71W.

VAT: Bingo

Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much was received in VAT on participation fees for games of bingo in each year since its introduction; [134476]

(2) what assessment has he made of the impact on bingo clubs of (a) the imposition of VAT on participation fees, (b) the changes introduced in the 2007 Gaming Act and (c) the ban on smoking in public places. [134477]

John Healey: Total VAT receipts are published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2007. It is not possible to give the breakdown requested, or to assess the specific impact of the Budget changes on bingo clubs. However, the forecast total yield from the Budget changes to Gaming Duty was published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

The effect of the smoking ban was incorporated into the forecast of total gambling receipts, which includes bingo duty receipts, and was published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.


2 May 2007 : Column 1749W

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to question 128930 on 16 April 2007, Official Report, column 421W, if he will publish figures showing the number of notices of warning of legal proceedings if payment is not made which were sent to individuals claiming tax credits who were in dispute with HM Revenue and Customs in each month from April 2003 to March 2007. [133656]

Mr. Timms: It is HMRC’s policy to suspend the recovery of overpayments while a dispute is being considered, and therefore should not issue notices of warning of legal proceedings while this is taking place.


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